Proposed Bruce A refurbishment for life extension and continued operation

Start date: December 14, 2004
Type: Screening
CEAR reference number: 04-01-8081
Proponent: Bruce Power
Location: Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station, Tiverton, Ontario

Latest Update

• July 5 2006 - CNSC announces Decision on Screening Environmental Assessment for Bruce Power Inc.'s Proposed Refurbishment for Life Extension and Continued Operations of the Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station
• February 13, 2006 - Request for Public Comment - Draft Screening Report - Comment Period Closed
• January 16, 2006 - Consultation Session on Draft EA Screening Report for the Bruce A Refurbishment for Life Extension and Continued Operations Project, Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station
• January 6, 2006 - Request for Public Comment - Draft Screening Report
• July 14, 2005 - CNSC Announces Decision on Environmental Assessment Guidelines for the Proposed Refurbishment of the Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station
• February 25, 2005 - Request for Public Comment - Draft Environmental Assessment Guidelines - Comment Period Closed
• February 22, 2005 - Notice of Public Hearing - 2005-H-5 Bruce Power - Environmental Assessment Guidelines (PDF)
• January 14, 2005 - Request for Public Comment - Draft Environmental Assessment Guidelines

Project Description

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has received notice of intent from Bruce Power for the modification of a condition of its operating licence for the Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station (NGS). The licence modification would authorize the restart of Units 1 & 2 at Bruce A NGS.

The proposal is to return Units 1 and 2 of Bruce A to service (operational status) and extend their life through the end of a potential Bruce Power lease in 2043. In addition, the proposal includes the possible extended operational life of Units 3 & 4 through 2043, as well as the potential use of Low Void Reactivity Fuel (New Fuel) in all 4 units at Bruce A. Authorizations required for the life extension of Units 3 and 4 and the use of New Fuel may be sought by Bruce Power as required at a later date. This would occur after Units 1 and 2 have been restarted if authorization to do so is provided by CNSC.

Bruce A Units 1 & 2 are currently in a defuelled guaranteed shutdown state. As a condition of its current licence, Bruce Power Inc. must obtain approval from the Commission before the reactors can be loaded with fuel and operated at power.

Before the Commission makes its decision on Bruce Power Inc.'s licence amendment application, an environmental assessment must be completed in compliance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The purpose of an environmental assessment is to identify the possible environmental effects of a proposed project, and determine whether these effects can be mitigated before the project is allowed to proceed.

The restart project consists of the following elements:

• Activities required to refuel Bruce A Units 1 and 2.
• Activities required to allow Units 1 and 2 to be brought to operational status.
• Activities required to extend the planned operational life of these units to allow continued generation of power by Units 1 and 2 for an extended period to the end of a potential Bruce Power lease in 2043.

No new construction activities will be undertaken for the Bruce A return to service project; also, no changes to existing approved waste management practices or systems have been proposed.

Steps ahead:

• Development of draft EA guidelines (scope document)
• Approval of EA guidelines by Commission following a public hearing
• Review of EA study report
• Preparation of draft screening report
• Public consultation on draft screening report
• EA decision by Commission following a public hearing

Further Information

For questions or information related to the environmental assessment on the proposed Bruce A refurbishment for life extension and continued operation, please contact:

Claude David
Environmental Assessment Specialist

Processing Facilities and Technical Support Division
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P.O. Box 1046, Station B
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5S9
Telephone: 1-800-668-5284
Fax : 613-995-5086
Email : ceaainfo@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

CNSC maintains a public registry of documents related to its Environmental Assessments. Lists and copies of documents may be obtained upon request from:

Daniel Desjardins
Senior Regulatory Program Officer

Bruce Regulatory Program Division
Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
P.O. Box 1046, Station B
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5S9
Telephone: 1-800-668-5284
Fax: : 613-995-5086
Email: ceaainfo@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca

CNSC regulates the use of nuclear energy and materials to protect health, safety, security and the environment and to respect Canada's international commitments on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.